Glen McLeod Cooper Johnson (néStephens; born 23 August 1984) is an English former professionalfootballer who played as aright back.
Johnson began his career atWest Ham United, spending time on loan atMillwall, and was signed byChelsea for a £6 million fee after West Ham's relegation in 2003. He helped Chelsea win the2004–05 Premier League title and the2005 League Cup final. In June 2006, Johnson joinedPortsmouth on loan for the2006–07 season. Following a successful season on loan atFratton Park, Johnson joined Portsmouth permanently for a fee of around £4 million.
Johnson played 99 times for Portsmouth and played in the2008 FA Cup final as Portsmouth beatCardiff City 1–0. Johnson moved to Liverpool in the summer of 2009 for a £17.5 million fee. Johnson spent six seasons atAnfield making 200 appearances which included victory in the2012 League Cup final. He joinedStoke City in July 2015 on a free transfer, and made 64 appearances over three seasons before retiring.
Known as Glen Stephens at the time of his birth, he took his mother's surname following the separation of his parents.[4] His parents Wendy Johnson and John Stephens named him after former England midfielderGlenn Hoddle.[4] He was born inGreenwich, London,[2] and grew up inDartford, Kent,[5] where he attended Temple Hill Primary School[6] and thenLeigh CTC School.[7] He was raised by his mother and grew up with his younger brother and older half-sister.[4]
At one stage of his childhood, he lived in ahostel as his mother had nowhere to live. Johnson credits his mother with helping him develop a football career, saying, "She had a tough time, bringing up three kids as a single parent with no help apart from the goodwill of close friends, and there were times when we had nowhere to stay. At one point we were homeless and staying in a hostel, but once mum got herself on her feet after a few hard years, and passed her driving test so she could take me to football every week, that gave us a fresh start."[8]
Johnson was a product of theWest Ham United youth system managed byTony Carr from the age of nine, becoming a 15-year-old first year scholar in 2000.[9] He signed a three-year professional contract with the club on 1 August 2001, close to his 17th birthday.[2][10] In the2001–02 season, he made regular appearances forWest Ham reserves, but was unable to break into the first team.[11] He eventually signed an initial four-week loan deal withlocal rivalsMillwall on 17 October 2002, making hisFirst Division debut in an away loss againstNorwich City on 19 October.[12][13] His loan was twice extended by a month, before he was recalled early toUpton Park after having spent seven weeks atThe Den, his final appearance in a Millwall shirt coming in another away defeat toCrystal Palace on 7 November.[13][14][15]
Johnson'sPremier League and West Ham debut came on 22 January 2003 in another away defeat to a London club, this time againstCharlton Athletic, when he came on for midfielderÉdouard Cissé.[14][16][17] He made 15 league appearances and oneFA Cup appearance in2002–03, becoming a more significant member of the West Ham team as the year went on.[14] He even signed a new four-year deal to remain in east London on 18 March 2003, appearing keen to help keep the club in the top flight.[10] However, his last outing in a Hammers shirt was to come on the final day of the season, 11 May 2003, in a 2–2 draw away atBirmingham City[14] which condemned the Hammers to relegation to theFirst Division.[18]
Two months after West Ham United's relegation, Johnson joined London rivalsChelsea, signing on 15 July for a fee of £6 million.[19] The first purchase under the ownership ofRoman Abramovich, he made his debut on 13 August in an away win againstŽilina in the2003–04 UEFA Champions League, and his first Chelsea goal came in the corresponding home leg two weeks later.[20][21] His league debut came on 17 August in anAnfield win againstLiverpool, but he had to wait until 9 November for his first league goal, netting the opener of a 5–0 victory overNewcastle United.[20][22][23] He made 19 league appearances in2003–04 as Chelsea finished as runners-up.[20]
In Chelsea's FA Cup fifth-round match against Newcastle United in the following season, goalkeeperCarlo Cudicini was sent off late in the match, and with no substitutions remaining, Johnson went in goal. Although he did not concede, Newcastle were already 1–0 up and went through at the expense of Chelsea.[24] He picked up a winner's medal when he came on as a second-half substitute for Chelsea in the2005 League Cup final, a match which Chelsea won 3–2 against Liverpool after extra time.[25] He also made 16 appearances,[26] enough for a medal, as they won the Premier League title in this season, but he was to miss out on a medal for their success in the next season after managing only four appearances in the league.[27]
Johnson joinedPortsmouth on a season-long loan in June 2006.[28] On his return to Chelsea, Johnson started the2007 FA Community Shield, which Chelsea lost toManchester United, and the opening Premier League match of the season at home to Birmingham City.[29]
On 31 August 2007, Johnson signed for Portsmouth on a four-year contract for a fee believed to be £4 million.[30] He was handed a start in the first match after his transfer, a 3–1 defeat atArsenal, and became the club's regular right back.[31] On 20 October, Johnson scored his first goal in over three years, againstWigan Athletic in a 2–0 win, after dribbling from the halfway line.[32] He helped reach the2008 FA Cup final againstCardiff City where Johnson played in a 1–0 victory.[33] Shortly after Johnson's cup success, he and Portsmouth substitute goalkeeperJamie Ashdown had their winner's medals stolen from their hotel rooms.[34] After the medals were not returned, theFA remade medals for Johnson and Ashdown.[35]
On 22 November 2008, Johnson scored a 30-yard screamer with his left foot againstHull City, a goal which wonMatch of the Day's Goal of the Month award for November, and later won theGoal of the Season award.[36] Johnson seemed to have ended speculation that he would move to Liverpool for a rumoured amount of £9 million by signing a four-and-a-half-year contract with Portsmouth on 9 January 2009, although speculation once again suggested that Johnson could make a big money move to Liverpool in the near future;[37] this was reaffirmed in late April 2009[38] On 22 April 2009, at the age of 24, Johnson was the youngest member ofThe Times "Top 50 Portsmouth players" list.[39] Johnson was included in thePFA Team of the Year for2008–09 despite Portsmouth finishing in the bottom-half of the Premier League, just seven points above the relegation zone.[40]
A Portsmouth representative confirmed on 13 June 2009 that a "sizeable bid" had been received for Johnson, with Chelsea, Liverpool andManchester City being mooted as possible suitors.[41][42] On 16 June 2009, Portsmouth agreed a bid believed to be £18.5 million from Liverpool.[43] However, two days later Portsmouth confirmed they had also accepted a bid from Chelsea and it was up to the player as to who he wanted to join.[44] Liverpool were believed to have tabled the £10 million bid on the basis that they were still owed £7 million by Portsmouth from the purchase ofPeter Crouch in the summer of 2008, with Liverpool willing to reduce the fee owed on signing Johnson.[45] On 22 June 2009, Liverpool announced the transfer and on 26 June 2009, Johnson signed a four-year contract.[46] Johnson made his Premier League debut on 16 August 2009 in a 2–1 defeat byTottenham Hotspur.[47]
On his home league debut for Liverpool on 19 August 2009, Johnson put in a man-of-the-match performance againstStoke City scoring his first goal for the club while also getting an assist in a match where he caused countless problems for the opposition defence.[48] On 29 August, Johnson scored his second goal for Liverpool in a 3–2 win againstBolton Wanderers.[49] On 30 December 2009, Johnson sustained a tear of the medial collateral ligament in his right knee during a league fixture againstAston Villa, which then-Liverpool managerRafael Benítez said would keep him out of action for at least a month.[50] On his return from injury in March, Johnson returned to form, scoring his third goal for the club againstSunderland at Anfield.[51] Johnson went on to make eight more appearances for the rest of the season, including helping Liverpool reach the semi-finals of theUEFA Europa League where they were knocked out byAtlético Madrid.[52] Johnson played 35 times and scored three goals in his debut season with the Reds.[53]
Johnson made a slow start to2010–11 and in November 2010, Johnson received criticism from managerRoy Hodgson, who felt his performances during that time had not been of international standard.[54] Johnson held clear-the-air talks with Hodgson and the pair played down their dispute.[55] Johnson scored his first goal of the2010–11 Premier League on 20 November 2010 against West Ham United at Anfield in a 3–0 win, after returning from being out with a groin strain.[56] On 5 January 2011, Johnson started and played the full 90 minutes againstBlackburn Rovers atEwood Park in a rather disappointing 3–1 defeat.[57] Johnson then suffered an injury againstWest Bromwich Albion atThe Hawthorns, but recovered before the end of the season to play in the final four matches of the season, including a 5–2 win overFulham atCraven Cottage.[58] Johnson made 35 appearances for Liverpool in 2010–11 as the team finished in 6th position.[59]
On 6 July 2011, Johnson signed a contract extension at Liverpool, the length of which was not disclosed by the club.[60] On 20 November 2011, Johnson scored a solo goal against his former club, Chelsea, atStamford Bridge after being set up byCharlie Adam. This proved to be the decisive goal, with Liverpool winning 2–1.[61] On 26 February 2012, he helped Liverpool to win their first trophy since 2006 as they won the2012 League Cup final against Cardiff City, playing the full match, hitting the crossbar in the opening minutes and scoring his penalty in the penalty shoot-out, winning his first trophy for Liverpool.[62] Johnson played 29 times in2011–12 under the management ofKenny Dalglish as Liverpool finished in 8th position but qualified for Europe due to their League Cup win.[63]
On 9 December 2012, Johnson scored Liverpool's first goal in a 3–2 win over his old club West Ham.[64] He played 43 matches in2012–13 as Liverpool finished seventh and reached the round of 32 in the UEFA Europa League, losing out toZenit Saint Petersburg.[65] Johnson played 30 times for Liverpool in2013–14 as the team narrowly missed out on the Premier League title.[66] On 29 November 2014 Johnson scored the only goal for Liverpool in a 1–0 victory over Stoke City.[67] On 24 May 2015, Johnson announced that he would leave Liverpool at the end of the season.[68] On 10 June, Johnson was released by the club.[69]
Johnson joined Stoke City on 12 July 2015, signing a two-year contract.[70] He made his debut for Stoke on 9 August 2015 in a 1–0 defeat against his former club Liverpool.[71] Johnson wasMark Hughes's first-choice right back in2015–16 until he suffered a season ending knee injury againstAFC Bournemouth on 13 February 2016.[72] Johnson played 29 times for Stoke prior to suffering his injury and the team went on to finish in ninth position.[73] Towards the end of the campaign Stoke suffered from a loss of form and Hughes cited Johnson's absence as one of the main reasons.[74] Johnson signed a one-year contract extension with Stoke in April 2017.[75][76] Johnson made 25 appearances in2016–17, as Stoke finished in 13th position.[77][78]
Johnson struggled for playing time in2017–18, making just ten appearances, as Stoke suffered relegation to theEFL Championship.[79][80] He was released by Stoke at the end of the season.[81]
On 21 January 2019, Johnson announced his retirement.[82][83]
During his time with theEngland under-21s, Johnson was handed his fullEngland debut on 18 November 2003 againstDenmark, coming on as a substitute for the injuredGary Neville after 16 minutes.[84]
Following a poor performance in England's friendly in Denmark in August 2005, he lost his position as Neville's understudy in the squad toLuke Young, who played in both the subsequent World Cup qualifiers.[85] Johnson did not make any further England appearances underSven-Göran Eriksson or his successorSteve McClaren, but was named inFabio Capello's first squad in January 2008.[86]
In 2010 Johnson played in the 2–0 victory overAndorra, and made four assists in the subsequent 6–0 victory against the same team for which he was namedman of the match.[87] Johnson scored his first goal for England in a friendly match againstMexico on 24 May 2010 atWembley Stadium, which ended 3–1 to England.[88]
In February 2011, Johnson began England's new calendar year by assistingAshley Young's winning goal in a 2–1 victory over Denmark inCopenhagen.[89]
On 16 May 2012, Johnson was named in new England manager Roy Hodgson'sUEFA Euro 2012 squad.[90] After missing England's 1–0 friendly win againstNorway through injury,[91] he played in England's second warm-up match, a 1–0 win againstBelgium at Wembley Stadium.[92] He featured in all three of England's group matches at the tournament, helping England to win their group with a draw againstFrance, and wins againstSweden andUkraine.[93][94][95] On 24 June 2012, he started for England in their quarter-final fixture with Italy, in which they were eliminated on penalties.[96]
On 12 May, Johnson was named in the 23-man England squad for the2014 FIFA World Cup.[97] During England's group stage match againstUruguay, Johnson made a run down the right wing, received a pass fromDaniel Sturridge and speared a cross into the penalty area toWayne Rooney who scored, although Uruguay went on to win 2–1.[98]
Born in England, Johnson is of Jamaican descent.[99] In 2007, Johnson set up the Glen Johnson Soccer School alongside Sam Taylor, a former player of West Ham United. The football school is based in Dartford, Kent, and its primary focus is training and development within local schools and one of his students is currently at West Ham United.[5]
In January 2007, it was reported that Johnson and his former Millwall teammateBen May were caught at aB&Q store inDartford, Kent, attempting to steal bathroom fittings. They both received £80 fines.[100] Johnson described the incident as "comical" because it was a misunderstanding[5] — "Ben was doing up his bathroom so we went to B&Q and found one of those sets where you get everything in one box. But he wanted a seat with a slow-close lid, so we took out the seat and put in another one. What we didn't know was that the new seat was £2.35 more expensive. We went through the till, paid for it and then the security guard stopped us and said he had been watching onCCTV. We just burst out laughing. Where'sJeremy Beadle then? But he said, 'No, this is serious, the police are on their way.' The police turned up and they were laughing. I said to the security guard, 'Can we not just pay the £2.35?'" He said, 'No, this is a serious offence.' So the police gave us two options: go to court and fight it out, or pay an on-the-spot fine. We couldn't be bothered going to court so we paid the fine but doing that made us look guilty".[5]
In 2007, Glen Johnson founded Johnsons Real Estate with his brother, Lewis Johnson. The Johnson Real Estate web site states 'Glen was the founder of Johnsons Real Estate in 2007 and has spearheaded the team ever since.' He is the Chief Executive Officer of Johnsons Real Estate.[101]
In December 2013, Johnson was banned from driving for six months after he was caught speeding in North Wales; he later lost his appeal against his conviction.[102][103]
^"Tony: Be patient with Glen". West Ham United F.C. 25 January 2002. Archived from the original on 25 September 2012. Retrieved19 August 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^"Glen: I can't wait". West Ham United F.C. 17 October 2002. Archived from the original on 25 September 2012. Retrieved19 August 2008.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^"Two good debuts". West Ham United F.C. 23 January 2002. Archived from the original on 25 September 2012. Retrieved19 August 2008.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
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